Safety-envelop.



R. V. & J. W. TUTTLE.

SAFETY ENvELoP. v APPLICATION FILED` MAY 6| 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

IHE NORRIS PErERS C0.. PHUTo-LITHU., WASHINGTON. D. C.

NTED STATES PATENT RALPH V. TUTTLE AND JOI-IN W. TUTTLE, OF POMERGY, "ASHNGTN.

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Application filed May 6, 1914.

To @ZZ ywhom t may concern:

Be it known that we, RALPH V. TUT'rLn and JOHN W. TU'rrLii, citizens of the United States, residing at Pomeroy, in the county of Garfield and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in envelops, and has for its principal object to provide an envelop in which the contents thereof may be securely held during transportation through the mails without sealing the envelop; or if it is desired to seal the same, to provide a sealing means which when once adjusted and scaled renders it almost impossible to open the envelop withoutdetection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing means which not only eiiectually seals the envelop, but acts as a reinforcement for the same in the event of bulky contents being placed Vin the envelop which tends to strain the holding capacity of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing means having a relatively large area of its surface exposed to view for advertising purposes.

The invention consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement` and Y combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but no restriction is necessarily made to the precise details of construction therein shown, as changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

1n the drawing, Figure l is a plan view of the improved envelop in open or unfolded position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the envelop folded and partially sealed. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the envelop sealed. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral l designates the body portion of the envelop having the usual side iaps 2, a bottom iiap 3, and a top flap 4, said flaps 3 and 4 having a portion of their surface gummed in the usual manner. EX-

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Serial No. 836,725.

tending from and formed integral with the top flap 4 is a sealing strip 5 having a relatively broad end portion 6 and a reduced portion 7, said portion 7 being treated with an adhesive substance on its inner face, and the portion G treated in a similar manner on its outer face and terminating in a pointed end S. The flap 4 is also provided with a horizontal slit 9 above the crease line of the flap 4, said slit being provided with reinforcing means 10. The side flaps 2 are formed with relatively large rounded overlapping end portions 11, said portions being gummed and provided with horizontal slits 12 and having their upper marginal edges cut away, as shown at 13, to conform to the contour of a tab 14 secured to the body portion 1 adjacent the crease line of the Hap 4 and in a line with the slit 9 and sealing strip 5.

The tab 14 is treated on the outer surface thereof with an adhesive substance, and is provided adjacent its rounded edge with 2 fastener 15, said tab being secured to the envelop by bending over and sealing the upper portion thereof to the body 1. The flap 3 has a slit 16 formed therein to register with the slits 12 in the side flaps 2 when the flap 3 is in folded position. It will also be noted that the top portion of the flap 3 is cut away in such a manner as to conform to the cut-away portion of the side flaps 2 and the rounded end of the tab 14.

It will be readily apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, that when it is desired to transmit the envelop through the mails in an unsealed condition, a letter, or other matter, is placed within the envelop between the body portion 1 and the inner Vface of the tab 14, and the sealing strip 5 is bent over and passed through the alined slits in the liaps 2 and bottom flap 3, thence upwardly over the fastening member 15, outwardly through the slit 9, over the top edge of the envelop, downwardly over the face of the envelop, then upwardly until the pointed portion 8 is over the fastening member 15, which is then pushed through the portion 7 of the sealing strip, the flap 4 and the pointed portion 8 of said strip. The points of the fastening member 15 are then bent over and the contents of the envelop are securely held therein, although the envelop may be readily opened and again secured if it is desired to inspect the contents of the same.

' `ing strip 5 and repeating the operation abovel the flaps.

If it is desired to seal the envelop, this may be readily accomplished by moistening the gummed surfaces of the flap 4 and sealdescribed, after which the flaps will be efectually sealed to the reduced portion 7 .of` the band 5, the portion 6 of said band firmly adhering to a portion of the top ap and the outer vsurface of the body l, and being bent around a sufficient distance to seal to the portion 7 over the alined slits in `With the additional securing means furnished by the tab 14 and the fastening member l5, it will be readily seen that to open the envelop without detection would be practically impossible, while the band 5 furnishes a reinforcing means for the envelop and also a considerable portion of its length may be utilized for advertising purposes. It will, furthermore, be noted that by cutting out portions of the side flaps 2 and the bottom flap 3 to conform to the shape of the tab 14, when the fastening means carried by the said tab is bent in such a manner as to lie flush with the front face of the tab, a large number' of envelops may be packed in small compass for shipment or transportation. It is also obvious that by providing the side iiaps 2 with the rounded overlapping portions, the slit in the side and bottom flaps is reinforced and a larger and more secure sealing surface is provided. It will also be seen that the enlarged portion of the sealing strip 5 furnishes an ample reinforcing means for the envelep, and the pointed end thereof enables the stiiip` to be drawn through the slits with Vgreater ease and facility, while the reduced portion of the said strip after having its gummed surface moistened Vis not liable to adhere to the edges of the slits or tear the same when being passed therethrough.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is y The combination with an envelop body provided with a slit, of bottom and side flaps having rounded cut out portions in the upper marginal edge thereof, a sealing flap vhaving a medially disposed slit therein, a

tongue having a reduced portion formed integral with said sealing flap adapted to pass through said slits, and means disposed Within said cut out portions and engageable with said flap and tongue for securing said means over the contents of the envelop.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

RALPH V. V'lUT'lLE. JOHN W. TUTTLE. Witnesses:

A. E. DIcirsoN', W. B. MORRIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner )of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

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